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How do I throw anything far and fast? Answered

I am building an artillery, and I need any method of propulsion, may it be electronic or mechanical. Only don't make it too complex as this may be my first (or second) instructable. Please post any answer.

Have you heard of Punkin Chunkin? Its a annual contest in which competitors try to launch pumpkins as far as possible, and air cannons always seem to do the best. You could make a basic air cannon out of a big tube, connect that to a valve that opens very quickly, and have a final tube that contains your object. If the object is not cylindrical or round, you can cut a piece of Styrofoam to the right diameter, cut it in half, and hollow out the Styrofoam in the shape of your object. An air cannon could be powered by taking a bike pump, drilling into the back piece of the cannon, and putting the tube of the bike pump there. If you do this, you will need to seal the gap. Also, the valve needs to open quick, so try to get something electronic... Perhaps a valve used in sprinkler systems? Hope this helps.

Yes, I had considered that, but, I had designed an auto loading system and I don't want to not to use it in my very first instructable. Well as for trebuchets and ballistae, they are almost practically impossible to be made auto loading, anyway my system will not work on that